Fathers’ engagement

Fathers have strong innate capacities to bond with, relate with and care for infants. Father-infant bonding has both a hormonal/neurobiological basis and a psychological basis and is critical for development of a children.

In most societies round the world, child care is considered to be the mothers’ responsibility, while fathers are actively discouraged from participating in. National polices and businesses have codified such norms in the form of biased company policies, for example allowing no or only limited parental leave for fathers. These restrict the full enjoyment of parenthood among fathers and male caregivers, while placing considerable burden on mothers or female caregivers. It must be understood that fathers have strong innate capacities to bond with, relate with and care for infants. Father-infant bonding has both a hormonal/neurobiological basis and a psychological basis and is critical for development of a child (Family Included, 2018).

Tips for parents:

Fathers and male caregivers should be encouraged to fully participate in child care right from birth and be encouraged to engage in all activities including support with feeding, playing, bathing, kangaroo care, etc
Ensure health care workers and systems actively encourage fathers’ participation during child’s health check-ups, immunization, etc
Ensure parental training and support (e.g. fathers’ groups) providing to create an enabling environment for fathers and male caregivers to develop skills and feel psychologically supported